HIST 102
United States History Since 1877
📄 Course Syllabus
Download the complete Spring 2026 syllabus for detailed course policies, schedule, and requirements.
Download Syllabus (PDF)📅 Schedule
Section: Y1, Spring 2026
Prerequisites: Eligibility for ENGL 101
Format: Online/Canvas
📚 Credits
Credit Hours: 4
Prerequisites: Eligibility for ENGL 101
IAI Number: S2 901
👨🏫 Instructor
Professor: Steven Austin
Email: [email protected]
Office: S226
Phone: 875-7211, x6392
Course Description
This course examines the transformation of the United States from the end of Reconstruction through the present day. Particular attention is given to industrialization, urbanization, immigration, the rise of American imperialism, the Progressive Era, World War I, the Roaring Twenties, the Great Depression, World War II, the Cold War, the Civil Rights Movement, and contemporary America.
Through primary source analysis, scholarly readings, and class discussions, students will develop critical thinking skills and gain a deeper understanding of the forces that shaped modern American society. Special attention will be given to the experiences of diverse groups including African Americans, women, immigrants, and the working class as they navigated the challenges of industrialization and fought for equality.
Learning Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, a student should be able to:
1
Historical Concepts
Demonstrate a firm grasp of fundamental American historical concepts from 1877 to the present.
2
Document Analysis
Critically analyze documents and apply historical methods to demonstrate and enhance historical thinking and analytical skills.
3
Historical Context
Understand, analyze, and compare relationships between historical American events, issues, values, and conflicting ideals, and their relevance to the present.
4
Multicultural Perspectives
Appreciate the multicultural contributions of different ethnic groups to U.S. history.
5
Historical Perspectives
Critique and analyze differing historical perspectives and paradigms in U.S. history.
6
Historical Understanding
Gain a deeper understanding of American history and its interpretations.
Major Topics Covered
🏭 Industrialization & Gilded Age
The rise of big business, labor movements, urbanization, and the transformation of American society.
🌎 American Imperialism
Overseas expansion, Spanish-American War, and the emergence of the United States as a world power.
⚖️ Progressive Era & WWI
Reform movements, muckrakers, women's suffrage, and America's entry into the Great War.
📉 Depression & New Deal
The Roaring Twenties, the Great Crash, and FDR's transformation of American government.
🌍 World War II & Cold War
The Good War, atomic age, McCarthyism, and superpower confrontation.
✊ Civil Rights & Modern America
The freedom struggle, Vietnam, cultural revolutions, and contemporary challenges.
The Historian's Workshop
17, L1
Lost Cause Mythology
Examining the construction and persistence of Lost Cause mythology from 1877 to the present—how post-war narratives reframed Confederate defeat, erased slavery's centrality, and continue to shape American memory of the Civil War.
Enter17
Gilded Age Politics
Analyzing political machines, corruption, and reform – Coming Soon
Coming Soon18
Immigration & Nativism
Examining the waves of immigration and American responses – Coming Soon
Coming Soon19
Shell Shock & the Great War
Documentary screening, psychological trauma, and the human cost of industrial warfare — a four-part assignment sequence.
Ch. 26–27
"Witches Everywhere" — Capstone
McCarthy, Venona & the Soviet Archives. Students research declassified KGB cables and the Vassiliev Notebooks to evaluate whether McCarthy's accusations were a baseless witch hunt — or something more complicated.
25
Civil Rights Movement
Strategies, leaders, and the long freedom struggle – Coming Soon
Coming SoonTextbooks & Study Guides
Liberty, Equality, Power
STUDY GUIDES
View Study GuidesResources & Deeper Inquiry
THE LYCEUM
Studies in History, Faith, and Civilization
A digital gathering place for lectures spanning continents and millennia. Explore American history, world religions, ethics, and more.
Enter The LyceumTHE PIERIAN SPRING
Deeper Inquiries in American History
"Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring." Student questions that deserve more than quick answers—explore complex topics with nuance and depth.
Visit the SpringRequired Materials
📖 Required Textbook
- Cengage Advantage Books: Liberty, Equality, Power: A History of the American People, Volume 2: Since 1863
- Authors: John M. Murrin, Pekka Hämäläinen, Paul E. Johnson, Denver Brunsman, James M. McPherson
- Publisher: Cengage Learning
- ISBN: 9781305657182
📄 Additional Resources
- Primary source documents (provided on Canvas)
- Video documentaries (available through Canvas)
- Document-based assignments and worksheets
🖥️ Technology Requirements
- Access to Canvas Learning Management System
- Word processing software with version tracking (Microsoft Word recommended)
- Reliable internet connection for online course activities
Grading & Assessment
This course follows a points-based system. Your final grade is determined by the total points you earn across all graded activities.
Grading Scale
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
D: 60-69
F: 0-59
Note: Point totals are subject to change based on actual coursework assigned. Late work accepted up to 48 hours with 10% penalty per day.
Course Policies
📧 Attendance
Regular attendance is essential for success in this course. Students are expected to attend all class sessions. More than three unexcused absences may result in a lowered grade.
⏰ Late Work
Assignments are due at the beginning of class on the specified date. Late submissions will be accepted up to 48 hours after the deadline with a 10% penalty per day. Extensions may be granted for documented emergencies.
🎓 Academic Integrity
All students are expected to adhere to the university's academic integrity policy. Plagiarism, cheating, or any form of academic dishonesty will result in disciplinary action including possible failure of the course.
♿ Accessibility
Students with disabilities who need accommodations should contact the Office of Disability Services and inform the instructor as soon as possible to arrange appropriate support.
Ready to Explore Modern American History?
Join us on a journey through the transformation of the United States into a modern nation.
Contact Professor Austin View Other Courses